W:O:A Crew has announced A cultural exchange between two countries which couldn’t be more different. In April Heavy Metal history will be written: SuidAkrA is the first international band that tours through India. The tour is on the occasion of the Indian Wacken Metal Battle and includes six cities.

The extraordinary project is a result of the cooperation between different organizations. The promoters of the Wacken Open Air as well as the promoter of the Bangalore Open Air and the Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan in Bangalore are supporting SuidAkrA’s tour.

The Wacken Metal Battle is a worldwide music contest where Heavy Metal bands from different countries participate. At the end thirty international bands meet up for the grand finale at the Wacken Open Air in Germany.

SuidAkrA is the headliner of the six Metal Battle shows in India. In the last years the band became more and more famous in India’s constantly growing metal community. This year, once again the German band enables the exchange between German and Indian metalheads.

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM performed recently for the first time ever in India and at the Kingfisher Great Indian October Fest in Bangalore. Frontman Alexi Laiho was interviewed by News 9 just before the show. Watch the video below.

American power metallers ICED EARTH have announced their first ever show in Bangalore, India on June 16th and the show on August 19th in Limassol marks a much-clamored return to Cyprus, only 8 months after their last show there. The show is being filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD/CD release. the band is currently in China for the first time with shows in Shanghai and Beijing this week.

“The decision of where to do the next IE live album and DVD was not an easy one. We have experienced so many amazing audiences around the world that we really wish we could film them all. However, the electricity and atmosphere of the first show in Cyprus was so killer that we are convinced this is the best place to do our next DVD. Who knows what the future holds? There will be many more albums and touring cycles…your city may be next”, says Jon Schaffer

ICED EARTH live:

11.04 China, Shanghai – Mao Live House

13.04 China, Beijing – Star Live

16.06 India, Bangalore – Bangalore Open Air

04.08 Sweden, Lulea – Kalaset Festival

07.08 Ireland, Dublin – Button Factory

08.08 United Kingdom, Belfast – Spring & Airbrake

09.08 United Kingdom, Glasgow – King Tut’s

10.08 United Kingdom, Derbyshire – Bloodstock Open Air

11.08 Finland, Oulu – Jalometalli Open Air

12.08 Belgium, Deinze – Alcatraz Festival

16.08 Germany, Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze Festival

17.08 Sweden, Falun – Rockstad Festival

19.08 Cyprus, Limassol – Kourion

As previously posted, bass player Freddie Vidales has announced he will leave the band after the Chinese shows this April. Due to the bands massive touring commitments there was immediate need for a replacement and Luke Appleton (of Fury UK, with whom ICED EARTH toured in Europe last winter) has stepped up to the plate and will be joining the tour in time for the show in India.

The four METALLICA members took part in a press conference on Friday, October 28 ahead of their canceled F1 Rocks India concert in Delhi, India. Video footage of the question-and-answer session can be seen below. Source: Blabbermouth.net